Monday, June 18, 2012

Meet the BAC's new ED, Natalie Johnson

Nine-year Manitou Springs resident and owner/founder of Black Cat Books Natalie Johnson was named the executive director of the Business of Art Center. Interim ED Linda Boedeker, who started at the BAC in 2009, will work with Johnson for about six weeks in training before returning to nonprofit consulting. In the BAC's press release, Boedeker says, "Knowing that I will be able to leave this organization in a financially healthy state warms my heart."

Johnson says she started at the BAC informally a few weeks ago, but will begin officially in another couple of weeks. The BAC plans to hold an event to celebrate Johnson and thank Boedeker later this year.

Johnson’s experience in arts and nonprofits is extensive, stretching from an internship at the Arts Institute of Chicago to time as a program coordinator at a community center in Seattle through AmeriCorps following her master’s in art history.

“I’ve always been a part of the arts,” she says.

As ED, Johnson hopes to connect with other local organizations, like the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region, and "being the person behind the BAC ... I plan on attending a lot of functions and meetings and things like that.”

However, she’s open to any opportunities that come along. “I’m a fan of saying yes to just about everything and playing with ideas of possibilities, so I think we will be spending some time just experimenting and going from there.”

She’ll keep Black Cat as well, which opened in August 2005 and recently merged with boutique safron of Manitou Springs. Johnson says she’ll work with volunteers and tag-team between both organizations.